Biomedical subjects

F Rui

Publications and source records attributed to F Rui.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2000

[Relationships between ankylosing spondylitis and ear disease].

OBJECTIVE: To explore whether patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have hearing loss and the pattern of hearing loss. METHODS: Questionnaire, physical examination of the ear, nose and throat, hearing test and sero-immunity examinations were conducted in 34 patients (68 ears) with AS. RESULTS: Among 34 patients, 11 cases reported decrease in the sound perception, and 24 cases (41 ears, 60.3%) had hearing loss as evidenced by the pure tone audiometry. In those patients with hearing loss, 2 ears with perforation of tympanic membrane showed conductive hearing loss and the remainder 39 ears showed sensorineural hearing loss in which 26 ears (66.7%) experienced high frequency hearing loss. Auditory brainstem responses were normally presented in 26 case, whereas abolished in 1 case (2 ears) with severe hearing loss. Examinations of sero-immunity showed a positive response in HLA-B27, but negative responses in the antinuclear antibody and rheumatoid factor. The percentage of the C-reactive protein increase was 81.8%. Autoantibodies anaginst the inner ear were positive in 9 cases (28.1%). In addition, all other immunological examinations revealed certain changes. CONCLUSION: More than half of the patients with AS had sensorineural hearing loss, particularly in the high frequency range. This hearing loss is paralleled by abnormal immunology and is a local expression of systemic autoimmune disease. Therefore, periodical hearing tests are necessary for these patients.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of occupational allergy to laboratory animals in two towns of northern and central Italy].

BACKGROUND: Laboratory animal allergy (LAA) is a well known occupational hazard for workers employed in biological and medical research institutes, but few Italian data on this disease exist. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate the prevalence of LAA in 45 workers in Trieste (NE-Italy) and in 80 workers in Perugia (Central Italy) and to assess factors predisposing to sensitisation among subjects occupationally exposed to animals. METHODS: All subjects underwent a physical examination and responded to a standardized questionnaire for the evaluation of allergic respiratory symptoms and exposure data. Skin prick tests with common allergens and with hair extract from laboratory animals were performed and specific IgE was measured. Atopy was defined as positive skin prick test to common allergens. RESULTS: There were 60% atopic subjects in Trieste and 55% in Perugia and sensitisation to laboratory animal hair was found in 24.4% subjects in Trieste and in 35% in Perugia. The prevalence rates of LLA were respectively 11.1% and 11.2%; 2.3% and 3.7% complained of asthma while 8.9% and 7.5% complained of rhinitis. The resulting symptoms were significantly related to skin prick tests that were positive to laboratory animal hair (odds ratio (OR) = 7.64; 1.83-44.5), to skin prick test positivity to common inhalant allergens (OR = 5.29; 1.09-50.2), to common allergic symptoms (OR = 3.95; 1.05-18.2) and to exposure time exceeding 5 hours per day (OR = 5.45; 1.31-22.0). CONCLUSION: The role of atopy and of exposure time in causing LLA was confirmed and the need of prevention measures to reduce exposure in people at risk was discussed.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Pleural plaques and ventilatory function: follow-up study].

We have evaluated, over a mean follow up period of 3.7 (SD 1.8) years, the lung function in a group of 103 workers, according to the presence (36 workers) or absence (67 workers) of pleural plaques at chest Rx-films/HRCT. A Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) approach was used to investigate the relation between the loss of pulmonary function and (i) presence/absence of pleural plaques, (ii) smoking status, and (iii) work seniority in work places with exposure to asbestos. The mean age, at the first examination, was 49 (SD 6) years and work seniority 25 (SD 7) years. Multivariate GEE approach to age- and height-adjusted spirometric data (236 measures of VC, FEV1 and 234 determinations of TLC), showed that pleural plaques were not associated with significant loss of pulmonary function. Smokers (> or = 15 py), when compared with no-smokers, showed significant loss of VC (-5.3%, p < 0.05), FEV1 (-8.4%, p < 0.001) and TLC (-4.0%, p < 0.05). An occupational history in work places with exposure to asbestos (ship building/repairing) was significantly associated with a slight, but significant (p < 0.05), 10-year decrease in VC (-3.1%) and FEV1 (-4.9%).

Follow-Up Studies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The role of the occupational health physician in the implementation of the European and Italian regulations on mechanical vibration at work].

The European Directive 2002/44/EC and the Italian Decree 187/2005 establish the minimum health and safety requirements regarding the exposure of workers to the risks arising from mechanical vibration. Excessive exposure to hand-arm vibration from powered processes or tools can cause disorders in the vascular, neurological and musculoskeletal systems of the upper limbs. Long-term occupational exposure to intense whole-body vibration is associated with an increased risk for disorders of the lumbar spine and the connected nervous system. The prevention of injuries or disorders caused by mechanical vibration at the workplace requires the implementation of administrative, technical and medical procedures. The role of the occupational health physician in the implementation of the health surveillance of vibration-exposed workers is discussed in the light of the requirements established by the European and Italian regulations. The health surveillance of vibration-exposed workers consists of pre-employment medical screening and subsequent clinical examinations at regular intervals. The aims of health surveillance are to make the worker aware of the hazards connected with exposure to mechanical vibration, to obtain baseline health data for comparison with the findings of subsequent periodical health examinations, to verify the presence of pathological conditions which may increase the risk of adverse health effects due to vibration exposure, to make a diagnosis of occupational or work-related disease, and to check the long-term effectiveness of preventive measures.

Europe↗